Vicki Van Meter
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| Vicki Van Meter | |
| Full name | Victoria L. Van Meter |
|---|---|
| Lived | March 13, 1982 – March 15, 2008 (aged 26) |
| Birth | Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Death | Meadville, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Cause of death | Suicide |
| Nationality | American |
| Aviation | |
| Known for | long-distance flying as a young pilot |
| Famous flights | Age 11: Youngest female pilot to fly across the United States, youngest pilot to fly east to west across continental united states; Age 12: Flew across Atlantic Ocean |
Victoria "Vicki" L. Van Meter (March 13, 1982 – March 15, 2008)[1] was an American pilot known for setting several youngest-pilot distance-flying records. At age 11, she was the youngest pilot to fly east to west across the continental United States of America, and the youngest female pilot to cross in either direction.[2][3][4]
Contents |
[edit] Young Pilot
She first piloted an airplane at the age of 10.[5] In August 1993, at age 11, she made headlines when she flew from Augusta, Maine to San Diego, California in a Cessna 172.[1] A year later she flew a Cessna 210[6] over the Atlantic Ocean to Scotland.[7]
After her flights she appeared on television and visited the White House. In 2003 she was featured with 36 other female pilots in the traveling exhibit Women and Flight — Portrait of Contemporary Women Pilots.[8][9], based on a book of the same name by Carolyn Russo.[10]
[edit] Adult life
She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Moldova after graduating from Edinboro University with a degree in criminal justice. She worked as an insurance company investigator and had made plans to pursue graduate studies.[1] Van Meter died at her home in Meadville, PA on March 15, 2008 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Her death surprised her family who believed she had been coping with her depression. She was 26.[8][11][1]
[edit] Further reading
- Van Meter, Vicki; Dan Gutman (1995). Taking Flight: My Story. United States of America: Penguin Group, 96. ISBN 0670862606.
[edit] See also
- Jessica Dubroff, who died at age 7 during an attempt to break Van Meter's transcontinental record, leading to U.S. legislation restricting such attempts.
[edit] External links
- Victoria L. Van Meter, The Meadville Tribune, local newspaper obituary, retrieved 2008-03-19
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Plushnick-Masti, Ramit. "Record-setting young pilot dies at 26", Associated Press, 2008-03-18. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ "Against the Wind, Girl Is Trying to Fly From Coast to Coast", The New York Times, 1993-09-21. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ "Arial Sports: The year in review". Encyclopædia Britannica. (1993).
- ^ The History and Physics of Flight, Minnesota Department of Transportation Office of Aeronautics p. 7 , retrieved 2008-03-18
- ^ Lawson, Carol. "At Home With: Vicki Van Meter; Apple Pie And Afterburners", The New York Times, April 28, 1994. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Walsh, Lawrence. "Pilot, age 12, takes off today to cross the sea", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 1994-07-05. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ Associated Press. "Pilot who flew cross-country at age 11 commits suicide", Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2008-03-18. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ a b "Noted pilot Vicki Van Meter dies", The Meadville Tribune, 2008-03-18. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ "Woman Aviators Exhibit to Open at Wright Brothers National Memorial", First Flight Centenial, 2003-12-03. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
- ^ *Russo, Carolyn (April 1997). Women and Flight: Portrait of Contemporary Women Pilots. United States of America: Bulfinch Press, 192. ISBN 082122168X.
- ^ Carroll, Jim. "Ex-child pilot Van Meter dies at home", Erie Times-News, 2008-03-18. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
